Off-ground tent

ABSTRACT

An off-ground tent includes a bedstead with an upper frame, a first coupler disposed along a periphery of the upper frame, and a plurality of leg assemblies coupled with the upper frame. The plurality of leg assemblies supports the upper frame so that the upper frame is off a ground when the bedstead is setup. An off-ground tent also includes a tent with a second coupler disposed along a periphery of the tent at a lower portion of the tent to removably couple with the first coupler of the bedstead. When in use, the upper frame of the bedstead and the tent are not in direct contact with the ground, providing more comfortable environments for sleeping or other uses. In some cases, the bedstead can be used separately without the tent.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority of Chinese Utility Model Applications CN 201720497083.9 filed May 5, 2017, the entire content of which application is incorporated herein for all purposes by this reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to tents and, more particularly, relates to off-ground tents.

BACKGROUND

Nowadays, people increasingly go camping over weekends to relax or to get away from the modem urban life. On such occasions, tents are used as a shield against sunshine, wind, rain, and attacks from mosquitos and bugs.

A typical conventional tent includes a tent frame, and a tent cloth coupled with and supported by the tent frame. The tent cloth usually includes a waterproof fabric or airbed at the bottom of the tent. When the tent is in use, the bottom of the conventional tent is in direct contact with the ground, which in many cases could be rough and with pebbles, tree branches or the like. As such, sleeping on the bottom of the tent is uncomfortable. Moreover, pebbles, tree branches or the like could damage (e.g., tear apart) the tent cloth and thus shorten the service life of the tent. Further, in cases where the tent is directly placed on a grassland, one may be disturbed by mosquitos, bugs, snakes or ants.

Given the current state of the art, there remains a need for tents that address the abovementioned issues.

The information disclosed in this Background section is provided for an understanding of the general background of the invention and is not an acknowledgement or suggestion that this information forms part of the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.

SUMMARY

The present invention is directed to off-ground tents that provide more comfortable environments to users.

In various exemplary embodiments, the present invention provides an off-ground tent including a bedstead and a tent. The bedstead includes an upper frame, a first coupler disposed along a periphery of the upper frame, and a plurality of leg assemblies coupled with the upper frame. The plurality of leg assemblies supports the upper frame so that the upper frame is off a ground when the bedstead is setup. The tent includes a second coupler disposed along a periphery of the tent at a lower portion of the tent, and removably coupling with the first coupler disposed along the periphery of the upper frame of the bedstead, thereby removably coupling the tent with the bedstead.

In some exemplary embodiments, the plurality of leg assemblies includes a first leg assembly at a head side of the bedstead, a second leg assembly at a foot side of the bedstead, and a third leg assembly at a middle portion of the bedstead. In some exemplary embodiments, each leg assembly in the plurality of leg assemblies is rotatably coupled with the upper frame.

In many exemplary embodiments, the upper frame includes one or more frame bars, and a bed cloth fixedly coupled with the one or more frame bars. In some exemplary embodiments, the first coupler is disposed at the bed cloth along the periphery of the upper frame.

In some exemplary embodiments, the tent has an open bottom such that when coupled with the bedstead, the bed cloth of the bedstead serves as a tent bottom cloth.

In an exemplary embodiment, the first coupler includes a first zipper chain and the second coupler includes a second zipper chain that mates with the first zipper chain.

In some exemplary embodiments, one of the first and second couplers includes a hook-like strip or patch and the other of the first and second couplers includes a loop-like strip or patch that mates with the hook-like strip or patch. In an exemplary embodiment, one of the first and second couplers includes a Velcro® hook and the other of the first and second couplers includes a Velcro® loop that mates with the Velcro® hook.

In an exemplary embodiment, the first coupler includes a plurality of holes spatially disposed at the bed cloth along the periphery of the bedstead, and the second coupler includes a plurality of buttons spatially disposed around the bottom periphery of the tent to couple with the plurality of holes. In another exemplary embodiment, the second coupler includes a plurality of holes spatially disposed around the bottom periphery of the tent, and the first coupler includes a plurality of buttons spatially disposed at the bed cloth along the periphery of the bedstead to couple with the plurality of holes.

In some exemplary embodiments, the tent includes one or more openings formed at one or more sides of the tent.

Off-ground tents of the present invention have other features and advantages that will be apparent from or are set forth in more detail in the accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein, and the following Detailed Description, which together serve to explain certain principles of exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the present application and, together with the detailed description, serve to explain the principles and implementations of the application.

FIG. 1 is an exploded view illustrating an off-ground tent in accordance with some exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an assembled view illustrating the off-ground tent of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating a bedstead of the off-ground tent of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to implementations of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The same reference indicators will be used throughout the drawings and the following detailed description to refer to the same or like parts. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the following detailed description is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. Other embodiments of the present invention will readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons having benefit of this disclosure.

In the interest of clarity, not all of the routine features of the implementations described herein are shown and described. It will, of course, be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made in order to achieve the developer's specific goals, such as compliance with application- and business-related constraints, and that these specific goals will vary from one implementation to another and from one developer to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of engineering for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.

Many modifications and variations of the embodiments set forth in this disclosure can be made without departing from their spirit and scope, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The specific embodiments described herein are offered by way of example only, and the disclosure is to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

Embodiments of the present invention are described in the context of off-ground tents. An off-ground tent generally includes a tent and a bedstead removably coupled with each other. The tent can be of various sizes and shapes including but not limited to ridge and dome tents. Similarly, the bedstead can be of various sizes including but not limited to twin, full, queen and king sizes, and of various shapes including but not limited to rectangles, squares and polygons.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, there is depicted an exemplary off-ground tent of the present invention. As shown, exemplary off-ground tent 100 includes bedstead 1 and tent 2 coupled with the bedstead. In various embodiments, bedstead 1 and tent 2 are removable coupled with each other such that the bedstead and/or the tent can be used separately.

In many embodiments, bedstead 1 includes upper frame 15, and first coupler 11 along the periphery of the upper frame. It should be noted that the term “periphery” as used herein refers to the outmost edge with or without its adjacent area. It should also be noted that the term “along the periphery” as used herein refers to along a portion or the entire length of the periphery, either continuously or discontinuously.

The upper frame itself can be foldable or non-foldable. In some exemplary embodiments, upper frame 15 includes one or more frame bars 12 and bed cloth 14 fixedly coupled with the one or more frame bars. In many cases, frame bars 12, or frame bars 12 together with bed cloth 14, define the periphery of the upper frame of the bedstead. For instance, in an embodiment, the upper frame includes bars on all sides and thus frame bars 12 define the periphery of the upper frame. In another embodiment, the upper frame includes only two bars, one on each side of the bedstead. In such a case, the frame bars and the bed cloth together define the periphery of the upper frame.

In some exemplary embodiments, first coupler 11 is disposed at (e.g., coupled or formed with) the bed cloth along the periphery of the upper frame.

In many embodiments, bedstead 1 also includes a plurality of leg assemblies coupled, or pivotally coupled, with the upper frame. It should be noted that a bedstead can include two, three, or more led assemblies, and the leg assemblies can be but do not have to be the same as each other. As an example, FIGS. 1-3 illustrate three leg assemblies 13 disposed at a head side, a foot side, and a middle portion of the bedstead, respectively.

The plurality of leg assemblies supports the upper frame so that the upper frame is off a ground when the bedstead is setup, and the bottom of the tent is off the ground when the off-ground tent is setup. This provides more comfortable environments for sleeping or other uses. For instance, it provides a smooth bed and prevents any disturbance from mosquitos, bugs, snakes, ants, or the like.

In many exemplary embodiments, tent 2 includes second coupler 21 disposed at a periphery of the tent at a lower portion of the tent, for instance, coupled or formed with a tent cloth along the bottom periphery of the tent. The first and second couplers are configured to be removably coupled with each other, thereby facilitating removable coupling of the bedstead and the tent.

Any suitable coupling means can be used as the first and second couplers. For instance, in an exemplary embodiment, a zipper is used to couple the bedstead and the tent, with the first coupler being a first zipper chain and the second coupler being a second zipper chain that mates with the first zipper chain.

In another exemplary embodiment, an adhesive fastener, such as Velcro® strip/patch or the like, is used to couple the bedstead and the tent. In such an embodiment, one of the first and second couplers includes one or more hook-like strips/patches and the other of the first and second couplers includes one or more loop-like strips/patches that mate with the hook-like strips/patches.

In a further exemplary embodiment, the first coupler includes a plurality of holes spatially disposed at the bed cloth along the periphery of the bedstead, and the second coupler includes a plurality of buttons spatially disposed around the bottom periphery of the tent to couple with the plurality of holes.

Alternatively, in an exemplary embodiment, the second coupler includes a plurality of holes spatially disposed around the bottom periphery of the tent, and the first coupler includes a plurality of buttons spatially disposed at the bed cloth along the periphery of the bedstead to couple with the plurality of holes.

In some exemplary embodiments, tent 2 has an open bottom, e.g., without a tent cloth at the bottom of the tent. In such cases, when the tent is coupled with the bedstead, the bed cloth of the bedstead serves as the tent bottom cloth, for instance, for a user to lie down. When the tent is de-coupled from the bedstead, the bedstead can be used alone and a user can also lie down on the bed cloth of the bedstead.

In some exemplary embodiments, tent 2 includes one or more openings formed at one or more sides of the tent. For instance, tent 2 includes opening 22 to serve as an entrance of the tent. In an exemplary embodiment, opening 22 is formed with two tent cloth segments coupled by a zipper.

As disclosed herein, when in use, the bottom of the tent or the bed cloth of the bedstead is not in direct contact with the ground. As such, the off-ground tent of the present invention provides more comfortable environments for sleeping or other uses. For instance, it provides a smooth bed and prevents any disturbance from mosquitos, bugs, snakes, ants, or the like. Moreover, as the bed cloth coupled with the upper frame, the bedstead can be used separately without the tent.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular implementations only and is not intended to be limiting of the claims. As used in the description of the implementations and the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be understood that the terms “upper” or “lower”, and etc. are used to describe features of the exemplary embodiments with reference to the positions of such features as displayed in the figures. It will be understood that, although the terms “first,” “second,” etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first coupler could be termed a second coupler, and, similarly, a second coupler could be termed a first coupler, without changing the meaning of the description, so long as all occurrences of the “first coupler” are renamed consistently and all occurrences of the “second coupler” are renamed consistently. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An off-ground tent comprising: a bedstead comprising: an upper frame; a first coupler disposed along a periphery of the upper frame; and a plurality of leg assemblies coupled with the upper frame, and supporting the upper frame so that the upper frame is off a ground when the bedstead is setup; and a tent comprising: a second coupler disposed along a periphery of the tent at a lower portion thereof, and removably coupling with the first coupler disposed along the periphery of the upper frame of the bedstead, thereby removably coupling the tent with the bedstead.
 2. The off-ground tent of claim 1, wherein the plurality of leg assemblies comprises: a first leg assembly at a head side of the bedstead; a second leg assembly at a foot side of the bedstead; and a third leg assembly at a middle portion of the bedstead.
 3. The off-ground tent of claim 1, wherein each leg assembly in the plurality of leg assemblies is rotatably coupled with the upper frame.
 4. The off-ground tent of claim 1, wherein the first coupler comprises a first zipper chain and the second coupler comprises a second zipper chain that mates with the first zipper chain.
 5. The off-ground tent of claim 1, wherein one of the first and second couplers comprises a hook-like strip or patch and the other of the first and second couplers comprises a loop-like strip or patch that mates with the hook-like strip or patch.
 6. The off-ground tent of claim 1, wherein one of the first and second couplers comprises a Velcro® hook and the other of the first and second couplers comprises a Velcro® loop that mates with the Velcro® hook.
 7. The off-ground tent of claim 1, wherein the upper frame comprises one or more frame bars, and a bed cloth fixedly coupled with the one or more frame bars.
 8. The off-ground tent of claim 1, wherein the upper frame comprises: one or more frame bars; and a bed cloth fixedly coupled with the one or more frame bars, wherein the first coupler is disposed at the bed cloth along the periphery of the upper frame.
 9. The off-ground tent of claim 8, wherein the tent has an open bottom such that when coupled with the bedstead, the bed cloth of the bedstead serves as a tent bottom cloth.
 10. The off-ground tent of claim 8, wherein the first coupler comprises a first zipper chain and the second coupler comprises a second zipper chain that mates with the first zipper chain.
 11. The off-ground tent of claim 8, wherein one of the first and second couplers comprises a hook-like strip or patch and the other of the first and second couplers comprises a loop-like strip or patch that mates with the hook-like strip or patch.
 12. The off-ground tent of claim 8, wherein one of the first and second couplers comprises a Velcro® hook and the other of the first and second couplers comprises a Velcro® loop that mates with the Velcro® hook.
 13. The off-ground tent of claim 8, wherein the first coupler comprises a plurality of holes spatially disposed at the bed cloth along the periphery of the bedstead, and the second coupler comprises a plurality of buttons spatially disposed around the bottom periphery of the tent to couple with the plurality of holes.
 14. The off-ground tent of claim 8, wherein the second coupler comprises a plurality of holes spatially disposed around the bottom periphery of the tent, and the first coupler comprises a plurality of buttons spatially disposed at the bed cloth along the periphery of the bedstead to couple with the plurality of holes.
 15. The off-ground tent of claim 1, wherein the tent comprises one or more openings formed at one or more sides of the tent. 